Marie Murphy
Middle School
The Orchestra
The Marie Murphy orchestras have a history of excellence. Approximately one-third of the Marie Murphy School student body is enrolled in the orchestra program.
We were accepted to perform at Disney World in March 2020, but the trip was canceled due to Covid19.
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We have previously performed at:
The Midwest Int'l Band and Orchestra Conference (Clinic Orchestra)
Illinois Music Educators Conference in Peoria
The Wilmette Rotary Club
Northwestern University Club
Westminster Place Retirement Village
Misericordia
Northfield/Winnetka Farmers Market
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The orchestra has three performance ensembles
Concert Strings
Senior Strings
Strolling Strings
and students perform in chamber music throughout the school year
The Avoca District received the NAAM 2019 "Best Communities for Music Education" Award. We also received this award in 2017. to learn more about this, touch
Our Philosophy
The Marie Murphy Orchestra is a team of musicians working towards the goal of improving their individual performance while playing together as an ensemble.
Every student progresses at a different pace and that pace changes throughout the school year. Sometimes students "catch fire" and increase their practice resulting in rapid improvement. Sometimes students have other commitments which take them away from daily practice.
No matter our speed, we are all making progress.
Orchestra Director
Mary Rudzinski teaches the orchestras at Marie Murphy and also teaches at Avoca West Elementary School, in the Suzuki program.
Previously, Mary taught in The Netherlands, Israel, and Elgin, Illinois. She has taught all levels from pre-school to graduate school and is a strong believer in the positive effects of string instrument study. ​
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In 2007, Mary was awarded the Illinois chapter of the American String Teachers Association's "School Teacher of the Year" Award.